Discover
The Big Picture

The Big Picture
Author: The Ringer
Subscribed: 8,469Played: 802,253Subscribe
Share
© All rights reserved.
Description
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.
625 Episodes
Reverse
Sean and Amanda review Kenneth Branagh’s third Agatha Christie adaptation, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ (1:00), before expanding their thoughts on haunted house films by sharing 10 of their favorites in the genre (45:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer contributor and film critic Adam Nayman to discuss the highs, lows, and shifting culture of the Toronto International Film Festival (1:00). Then, they share a joint list of the most anticipated movies of 2023 that neither have shown each other until now (23:00), including ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,’ ‘Pain Hustlers,’ ‘Leave the World Behind,’ and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan are joined by Bill Simmons and Van Lathan for a draft of the best Denzel Washington movies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, and Van Lathan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
To celebrate Episode 600, Sean and Amanda open up the mailbag to answer your questions about how they watch movies, Martin Scorsese, what’s changed in the last six years, the fictional location where they’d like to have a drink or meal, the rejected alternate names for the podcast, and more!
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After their respective trips to Colorado and Italy, Sean and Amanda convene to discuss the movies they watched at Telluride and Venice Film Festivals, including films from David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Michael Mann, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and more (1:00). Then, they share some early Oscar predictions based on the quality and buzz surrounding the films coming out of the two festivals (1:10:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the best movies of 2006.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We’re back! Sean and Amanda discuss all the movies they missed, the big stories out of Hollywood, and much more (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Bottoms’ director Emma Seligman to discuss her new comedy (1:35:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Emma Seligman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oliver Stone returns to Vietnam with ‘Born on the Fourth of July’—a movie that closes out the ’80s, as well as the Vietnam movie boom. But ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Dead Presidents’ prove that ’90s audiences aren’t ready to leave Vietnam for good.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Running on Empty’ (1988), ‘Dogfight’ (1991), and ‘Heaven and Earth’ (1993).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the late ’80s, a new wave of big-studio hits like ‘Full Metal Jacket’ and ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ introduces young moviegoers to Vietnam—and helps turn the war into an unlikely pop-culture phenomenon.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Hamburger Hill’ (1987) and ‘Casualties of War’ (1989).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
Interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oliver Stone’s harrowing and heartbreaking Vietnam drama ‘Platoon’ becomes a worldwide phenomenon in 1986—and signals the beginning of the Vietnam movie boom.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the early 1980s, as America is grappling with the fallout of Vietnam, a troubled big-screen vet named John Rambo launches an unlikely movie franchise—and leads a wave of make-believe soldiers who are ready to fight the war all over again.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘First Blood’ (1982), ‘Uncommon Valor’ (1983), ‘Missing in Action’ (1984), and ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ (1985).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
‘Apocalypse Now’ closes out the 1970s with the most ambitious Vietnam movie yet: a big-budget spectacle that will bring moviegoers closer than ever to the madness of war—and nearly push director Francis Ford Coppola over the edge.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Who’ll Stop the Rain’ (1978), ‘The Boys in Company C’ (1978), ‘Go Tell the Spartans’ (1978), and ‘Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse’ (1991).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the late ’70s, ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘Coming Home’ offer two very different visions of Vietnam—and become unexpected hits. Together, they’d bring the war to the mainstream—and to the Oscars.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It’s the mid-’70s, and Hollywood is still scared of Vietnam. But a series of dark and wildly entertaining B movies brings the war to the big screen, with explosive results.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘M*A*S*H’ (1970), ‘Soldier Blue’ (1970), ‘Brotherhood of Death’ (1976), ‘Taxi Driver’ (1976), and ‘Rolling Thunder’ (1977).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the late-’60s, John Wayne stars in the first hit Vietnam movie: his controversial blockbuster ‘The Green Berets.’ And the piercing documentary ‘Hearts and Minds’ leads to an Oscar-night meltdown in 1975.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘In the Year of the Pig’ (1969) and ‘Winter Soldier’ (1972).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
‘The Deer Hunter.’ ‘Apocalypse Now.’ ‘First Blood.’ ‘Platoon.’ They’re among the hit films dealing with the Vietnam War—a conflict that divided moviegoers and inspired filmmakers. For decades, Hollywood released countless films about the war and its fallout—from action flicks to combat tales to sweeping dramas.
Through exclusive new interviews, ‘Do We Get to Win This Time?’ chronicles the making of Hollywood’s most ambitious and controversial Vietnam movies. Along the way, we also learn how these films reflected and shaped moviegoers’ feelings toward the war—and toward each other.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer contributor Brian Raftery to discuss his upcoming series ‘Do We Get to Win This Time? How Hollywood Made the Vietnam War,’ which will be running on ‘The Big Picture’ feed over the next three weeks (1:00). Then, at long last, Sean and Chris Ryan unveil the latest genre in their ongoing niche genre project: Garbage Fish (15:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Brian Raftery
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sean discusses ‘Talk to Me,’ the horror movie of the summer, and his five scariest summer movies (1:00), before being joined by the directors of the film, Danny and Michael Philippou (10:00). Then, he is joined by ‘Afire’ director Christian Petzold to discuss his new film, his career, and the shared interests of arthouse and commercial cinema (41:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Danny and Michael Philippou, Christian Petzold
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
To celebrate Amanda’s birthday, Sean, Amanda, and Bobby gather to taste the various liquors, wines, beers, and mixed drinks endorsed or owned by movie stars. While tasting, they discuss the stars’ careers—past, present, and future—and whether their business projects are to blame for the shift in their focus away from the silver screen.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer-verse co-host Joanna Robinson to dive deep into ‘Barbie’—its innovation, its performances, its overwhelming success at the box office, and everything in between (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Greta Gerwig to discuss her approach to building the ‘Barbie’ world, the unique challenges it presented, how it relates to the other two films she’s directed, the cultural phenomenon it has set off, and more (1:29:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Greta Gerwig and Joanna Robinson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
thrilling? tedious is more accurate
I find it funny that he can speak about “the importance of women” but then cast a known abuser as a major role in his movie. A. Hammer comes from a long line of abusers and has proven to be one himself. Gross.
I think it’s pretty obvious the cops only do things or care when someone dies. That’s the point. When DV or r*pe happens that’s what it looks like.
She is so annoying. 👀
I really wish it didn’t take almost 20 minutes to talk about Avatar…
are people being killed by a bear supposed to be funny?
Obtaining accurate data from observation satellites is a valuable service for scientific centers that are engaged in environmental protection https://dragonflyaerospace.com/ The stability of all living things on the planet depends on the forecasts of weather and protection from negative impact, which brings modern production and spontaneous phenomena.
Amanda is consistently terrible and I've never once listened to an episode wishing she somehow participated. She makes everything worse and has awful opinions.
Good lord, I hope they please stop having Adam Nayman on the podcast. What a miserable joyless person. I really feel bad for his inability to enjoy anything ever.
You stupid cunt. The law in Florida protects children against leftist perverts like yourself. Sexual indoctrination of children is a crime punishable by death. I hope someone kills you soon you fucking piece of shit.
popular art us still art, but regardless if how emotionally manipulative (and effective) Spider-Man NWH, it doesn't belong in any best picture conversation. It doesn't do anything that actual Oscar winner Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse didnt already fo better. Let the Marvel movies run the table at the MTV and People's Choice award shows. Let the grown ups have the Oscars. please. Do it for Marty!
Best Draft Ever!!
What about the documentary of Muscle Shoals?
Seriously? no one picked Hitchcock's "Notorious"? Easily the best spy movie
Short answer: Obviously, yes. Who wants to pay upwards of $10 a person (double that if you visit the concession stand) to watch a movie with a bunch of strangers who may or may not talk through important scenes, text the whole time, or just otherwise mess with your experience entirely?? You're better off shelling out the $20 to catch the movie on VOD in the comfort of your own home, where you can eat/drink whatever you please. You have a perfect view of the screen; you can pause or rewind on a whim...
Cool insight though Edgar's audio quality is unfortunately shit
I don’t understand the lack of show notes! Write you films that are mentioned.
These two are pathetic. Please never leave your houses.
SAM ESMAIL!
Great episode